Looking for more hikes near Sunset Point?
Head further into Capitol Reef National Park, where trails to Cohab Canyon, Hickman Bridge, and Cassidy Arch take you deeper into the desert.
LOCATION
Panorama Point, Goosenecks Overlook, and Sunset Point are located in Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, just south of Highway 24. The turnoff for the trailheads is eight miles east of the town of Torrey and 2.4 miles west of the Capitol Reef Visitor Center.
LENGTH
- Sunset Point: 0.6 miles out-and-back
- Goosenecks Overlook: 0.2 miles out-and-back
- Panorama Point: 0.3 miles out-and-back
DIFFICULTY
Easy — At a combined length of barely more than a mile, the approach to these viewpoints is perhaps more of a walk than a hike. Still, the trails are rocky and a bit hilly. so wear shoes with good traction.
WE HIKED IT
April, 2026; 1 hour for all three viewpoints, including driving between the trailheads
CURRENT INFO
Find more information about Capitol Reef National Park on the park website. Maps and reviews for Panorama Point, Goosenecks Overlook, and Sunset Point are available on the AllTrails website. If you’re planning a trip to Capitol Reef National Park, I recommend the guidebook Moon Zion & Bryce: With Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Grand Staircase-Escalante & Moab.
GOOD TO KNOW
- There is a $10 to $20 fee to enter Capitol Reef National Park. It’s also covered by the America the Beautiful Pass. If you don’t already have a pass, check ahead of time to see if you qualify for a free or reduced price pass — veterans, seniors, and 4th graders do!
- If you are only driving through Capitol Reef National Park on Highway 24, you may not have to pay an entrance fee. When we visited, there was no pay station for the park along the highway.
- There are no toilets available at the trailheads. Restrooms are available at the Capitol Reef National Park Visitor Center when the center is open, or at the Fruita Day Use Area.
- All three viewpoints are close to one another, and located just a few minutes’ drive from Highway 24. Panorma Point is closest to the highway, while Sunset Point and Goosenecks Overlook share the same parking lot at the end of the road.
- Pets are not allowed on trails in Capitol Reef National Park, but are allowed in parking lots.
- Panorama Point has incredible views from the parking lot, and is a good option for those with limited mobility. The parking lot view at Sunset Point and Goosenecks is pretty great, too, but I think Panorama Point is the best if you cannot hike the short but rocky trails.
- I recommend visiting Capitol Reef National Park in fall or spring. Summers are hot, and winters are cold. Aim for the shoulder season sweet spot!
- Always follow Leave No Trace principles.
HIGHLIGHTS
Panorama Point, Sunset Point… the names say it all; these are the perfect places to enjoy sweeping views across Capitol Reef National Park, especially at golden hour. But don’t let the name Goosenecks Overlook fool you. This viewpoint is spectacular as well. In fact, the cover photo for this post is a view from Goosenecks.
Since all three viewpoints are located close together (Goosenecks and Sunset Point even share the same trailhead), I highly recommend stopping at all three. And yes, timing your visit for sunset is ideal. You may want to aim for about an hour prior to sunset to capture the best light. I also have a feeling that sunrise would be splendid… The bottom line is, the scenery is epic at any time of day, and a must stop on any visit to Capitol Reef National Park.
THE KIDS’ TAKE
The short trails to Panorama Point, Goosenecks Overlook, and Sunset Point are an easy way to get kids out and moving. Don’t be surprised if they’re more interested in the boulders close at hand than the views in the distance. Find a spot to sit and enjoy the view while they clamber over the rocks. We can all find our happy place here!
As I’ve mentioned, these trails are short, which makes them great for young kids who are just starting to get out on the trail. Yes, there are some edges to watch out for and the path can be slippery, but there’s still plenty of room to explore safely while an adult keeps an eye out. Older kids will enjoy more freedom to wander on their own.
WHILE YOU’RE HERE
Capitol Reef National Park is a wonderland of hiking opportunities. Two of our favorites are Hickman Bridge and Cassidy Arch. Near Fruita Campground, Cohab Canyon is another great option. While these hikes clock a few more miles than the short walks to Panorama Point, Goosenecks Overlook, and Sunset Point, you can easily tackle a couple trails before dinner, then drive out to the viewpoints to cap off your evening.
For a convenient home base for your explorations, book a site well in advance for Fruita Campground. We spent five nights in this charming campground, located just 1.2 miles southeast of the visitor center. It’s conveniently close to the Gifford House, where visitors line up daily to purchase their famed homemade fruit pies.
With more time, the “Loop the Fold” scenic drive is a great way to spend half a day (or more) exploring some of the further reaches of Capitol Reef National Park. The visitor center sells a helpful driving guide that points out many areas of geological interest. The highlight is the trek up (or down) the infamous Burr Trail switchbacks. This section of the road is unpaved, and high clearance is helpful. Be sure to check the weather before you go, as rain storms can turn the otherwise dry roadbed to a thick slurry of slick mud. Hungry? This route passes through the tiny town of Boulder, where both the Burr Trail Grill and Little Bone Food Truck serve excellent meals.
Our Experience
As our first full day in Capitol Reef National Park drew to a close, there was just one thing left on the agenda: catching the sunset from Sunset Point. Or maybe from Panorma Point… wait, how about Goosenecks Overlook? And, well, why not check out all three?
The great thing about these three viewpoints is that you really can do all three without putting in much extra effort. Each one has something unique to offer, but all showcase Capitol Reef National Park at its most photogenic as the sun makes its nightly farewell.
We started at Panorama Point, the first stop after turning off Highway 24. The name is apt; at Panorama Point, you are surrounded by 360 degrees of desert vistas, and you don’t even have to stray far from the car. You can take a short walk to a viewpoint, but anywhere you look the views are grand. We hit Panorama Point at just the right moment, as the cliffs of Capitol Reef deepened to a rich red in the evening light.
Our goal was to make it to Sunset Point by sunset, so we couldn’t stay long. We hopped back in the car and reached the Sunset Point/Goosenecks Overlook a few minutes later. Conveniently, both viewpoints share the same parking lot.
Goosenecks Overlook was our next destination. A short uphill walk leads to the viewpoint, which looks out over the Sulphur Creek Canyon. Here, the canyon walls are much closer than the desert formations visible from Panorama and Sunset Points. Look far enough down, and you can see Sulphur Creek winding across the canyon floor, creating the “gooseneck” that gives the overlook its name.
The views from Goosenecks Overlook were gorgeous, but the sun was now hovering just above the horizon, and we still hadn’t made it to Sunset Point. As we headed down from Goosenecks Point, I noticed the sunlight had shifted, casting its golden glow further across the landscape.
Golden hour is fleeting, so we hustled along the trail to Sunset Point, eager to make it to the viewpoint before the shadows fell. According to the sign, the walk to Sunset Point was just one third of a mile. So why did it feel further? Compared with the other viewpoints, this felt much more like an actual hike.
While it took a few more minutes, it’s still a quick trip to reach Sunset Point. And yes, the views are worth a little extra effort. We may have missed the best light of the evening, but the views were still spectacular.
Sunset Point also turned out to be a great spot for some rock climbing. The boys eagerly explored the nooks and crannies among the boulders, and dad even got in on some of the action.
As the landscape around us deepened in hue, we caught the final golden beams of sunlight along the horizon. The clouds caught the dazzling glow as it spread and softened to creamsicle orange.
We made our way back to the car before darkness set in, stepping carefully along the rocky trail. There could be no better way to end our first day at Capitol Reef National Park. I was eager to see what the next day held. But first, it was time to head back to the campsite and ready ourselves for bed. Good night, Capitol Reef! We’ll see you in the morning.
